MBSS Site Summary for: COCA-117-N-2003

Site Photos


Located on UT POTOMAC RIVER in the Potomac River MO Cnty watershed, 8-digit code: 02140202.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/23/2003 and again in the summer on 8/6/2003.

Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) Results:

An Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) is a scientific tool used to identify and classify stream health. An IBI associates anthropogenic influences on a stream or with biological condition in the stream, and is formulated using data developed from biosurveys.
Details on the development and application of MBSS IBIs are in this document.
Fish IBI Fair - 3.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 1.0 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 917 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 71 %
Agricultural Land Use 6 %
Forested Land Use 21 %


Stream showing woody debris, logs, and rocky substrate.
An example of woody debris in a stream.

Physical Stream Habitat

Instream Habitat 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 47 meters
13/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 65 meters
12/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 75 %
Embeddedness 15 %


Stream Water Quality:

Water temperature 21.1 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7.8 mg/L
pH (lab) 8.38
Conductivity 526 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity)
1671 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 2.3 mg/L

Biological Stream Condition:

Surveys of the organisms living within a stream can give indications of stream health. Species richness, or the number of different species present, as well as indicator species (species whose presence, absence or abundance can serve as a measure of environmental conditions) are informative for stream health.
Close-up of a mayfly indicator species.

Fish Survey Results:

The following 20 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Central Stoneroller 62
Blacknose Dace 53
Bluntnose Minnow 34
Green Sunfish 29
Longnose Dace 25
White Sucker 14
American Eel 11
Creek Chub 11
Largemouth Bass 5
Fallfish 4
Yellow Bullhead 3
Bluegill 2
Fantail Darter 2
Spotfin Shiner 2
Tessellated Darter 2
Golden Shiner 1
Pumpkinseed 1
Redbreast Sunfish 1
Rosyside Dace 1
Swallowtail Shiner 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:

Fowler's Toad
Northern Watersnake

Crayfish:

No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:

Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Mimosa
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:

Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Gammarus Amphipod 30
Diamesa Bloodworm 24
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 21
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 12
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 7
Orthocladiinae Midge 2
Crangonyx Amphipod 2
Goniobasis 1
Lepidoptera Aquatic Moth 1
Stenelmis Beetle 1
Coenagrionidae Narrowwinged Damselfly 1
Caenis Mayfly 1
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 1
Boyeria Spotted Darner Dragonfly 1
Kick net sampling for macroinvertebrates.
Sampling with a kick net.

Information disclaimer: The information and data on this page is for guidance and general planning purposes only. It should not be used to make decisions on specific matters.